Clinton gives fiery defense of her progressive record at debate

Hillary Clinton fiercely defended her record as a progressive at Thursday night’s Democratic presidential debate, accusing competitor Bernie Sanders of seeking to be the “gatekeeper” of what constitutes being a liberal. 

Clinton and Sanders have been squabbling in recent days over who is a purer liberal and champion of progressive causes. 

{mosads}Sanders has said a true progressive would not have voted for the Iraq War, wouldn’t have accepted millions in donations from Wall Street, and would have come out sooner against the Keystone XL oil pipeline and President Obama’s trade agreement. 

On Thursday, Clinton fired back, saying that under the Vermont senator’s definition, Obama and Vice President Biden wouldn’t be considered progressives. 

“I’m a progressive who gets things done, and the root of that word progressive is progress,” Clinton said. “It’s caused me to wonder who is left in that wing of the Democratic Party that fits his description. President Obama wouldn’t be a progressive because he took donations from Wall Street. Vice President Biden wouldn’t be a progressive because he supported Keystone.” 

Clinton sought to flip the argument on Sanders by pointing to his record on gun rights and votes against the Brady Bill, which is largely viewed as the cornerstone of the current background check system, and against a bill that would hold gun manufacturers liable for shooting deaths. 

“If we’re going to talk progressive, I don’t think it was progressive to vote against the Brady Bill five times,” the former secretary of State said. “I don’t think it was progressive to vote to give gun makers immunity. I don’t think it was progressive to vote against Ted Kennedy’s immigration reform.

“So we can go back and forth like this but the fact is, most people want to know what we’ve done and what we’ll do.” 

Sanders at first sought to deflect the question by pointing to issues the nation faces over income inequality. 

He said the dispute began when Clinton described herself as “moderate,” not because he was looking to draw distinctions. 

But Clinton didn’t relent and fired back at Sanders for hitting her on the issue. 

“I understand Sen. Sanders is really trying to distinguish himself,” she said. “But at the same time let’s not be in an unfair way making an accusation or an attack about where I stand and where I’ve always stood.” 

“It’s fair to say that in your definition as the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism — I don’t know anyone else who fits that definition, but I know a lot of hard-fighting progressives in the Democratic party,” she continued. 

That drew the ire of Sanders, who then went on the attack by framing Clinton as in the pocket of Wall Street. 

“Instead of arguing about definitions, let’s talk about what we should do,” the Independent said. “We should not only talk the talk but walk the walk. I’m the only candidate up here who does not have a super-PAC, who has not raised huge sums of money from Wall Street or special interests.

“I’m enormously proud, never believed it could happen … that is what the political revolution needs.”